Garment

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Description

Long tunic (kameez) worn over pants with a veil, as part of a wedding ensemble (3132/2 b-c). Shirt has long narrow sleeves, a slightly scooped neck, and a front opening that fastens with hooks. Garment is made of wild tussar silk in a light orange-brown colour. It is hand embroidered the length of the front opening on both sides, and around the wrists and front of the neck, along with cording of metallic thread. Images include standing birds, elephants with tusks and long tails, and human figures with arms spread, in gold metallic thread, round wooden beads, and tubular glass and metal beads. The back is undecorated; the interior is lined with panels of silk in a course weave.

Cultural Context

weddings; ceremonial

Narrative

This three-piece raw silk wedding ensemble was commissioned in the 1980s by friends of the bride, Ms. C. Aiyar. Ms. Aiyar, Hindu, came from Tamil Nadu in South India, however the style of this garment is more of a northern style (e.g., salwar/chemise rather than sari), likely because she was marrying a groom from North India. The colour is also unusual, as most Hindu brides prefer to marry in bright red saris. The natural (un-dyed) colour of this material is said to be associated with renunciation and contemplation. It was chosen because the bride had lived with her parents in an ashram until she was 16 years old, when she married.

Specific Techniques

The glass and wooden beads sewn on the outfit were hand-crafted. The raw silk fabric was also hand-woven and hand embroidered. India is the second largest producer of tussar silk, which is produced by tribal groups living in the sub-tropical forested regions.

When

Other

This data has been provided to the RRN by the MOA: University of British Columbia.
We've used it to provide the information on the Data tab.

ID Number

3132/2 a

Title

Garment

Item Name

garment

Culture

South India

Material

fibre, tussar silk
glass
wood
metal

Date Made

1985 to 1985

Place Made

India: Tamil Nadu

Date Owned

to 2015/09/29

Owner

Kovanic, Rudi

Owner

Kovanic, Gillian Darling

Owner

Aiyar, C.

Acquisition Date

2015/09/29

Source

Kovanic, Rudi [donor]

Measurements

height: 115.5 cm (overall), width: 87 cm (overall)

Item Classes

textiles

Condition

good

Accession Number

3132/0002 a

Description

Long tunic (kameez) worn over pants with a veil, as part of a wedding ensemble (3132/2 b-c). Shirt has long narrow sleeves, a slightly scooped neck, and a front opening that fastens with hooks. Garment is made of wild tussar silk in a light orange-brown colour. It is hand embroidered the length of the front opening on both sides, and around the wrists and front of the neck, along with cording of metallic thread. Images include standing birds, elephants with tusks and long tails, and human figures with arms spread, in gold metallic thread, round wooden beads, and tubular glass and metal beads. The back is undecorated; the interior is lined with panels of silk in a course weave.

Cultural Context

weddings; ceremonial

Narrative

This three-piece raw silk wedding ensemble was commissioned in the 1980s by friends of the bride, Ms. C. Aiyar. Ms. Aiyar, Hindu, came from Tamil Nadu in South India, however the style of this garment is more of a northern style (e.g., salwar/chemise rather than sari), likely because she was marrying a groom from North India. The colour is also unusual, as most Hindu brides prefer to marry in bright red saris. The natural (un-dyed) colour of this material is said to be associated with renunciation and contemplation. It was chosen because the bride had lived with her parents in an ashram until she was 16 years old, when she married.

Specific Techniques

The glass and wooden beads sewn on the outfit were hand-crafted. The raw silk fabric was also hand-woven and hand embroidered. India is the second largest producer of tussar silk, which is produced by tribal groups living in the sub-tropical forested regions.